Posted on August 28, 2025
DSPs are team members we value and appreciate year-round.
Gregory Miller
President/CEO Penn-Mar Human Services
From September 7–13, the nation will be observing Direct Support Professional Recognition Week.
When launching this special designation, the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) emphasized that “Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are at the heart of in-home and community-based disability services. They deliver essential long-term supports that empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to live independently, work in the community, spend their days meaningfully, connect with family and friends, and more.”
ANCOR advocates for inclusion and provides resources and support to enhance the lives of people with disabilities and their families. Its 2,500 members employ nearly 750,000 DSPs, who together support more than one in five people with IDD in the US.
The value of our DSPs is something that can never be assumed or overlooked. The quality of our services and ability to deliver on our promise to support people with IDD to live courageously in pursuit of their best life is dependent on these team members who provide direct support on a day-to-day basis.
Yet despite the array of valuable supports DSPs deliver in every corner of this country, this is a workforce in crisis.
Turnover and vacancy rates within the DSP ranks have skyrocketed in recent years, with turnover rates hovering just below 40% nationally and as many as one in eight DSP positions remaining vacant.
Despite the national shortage, Penn-Mar’s DSP retention rate is above average due to significant investments in career training which has improved our retention and advancement opportunities.
Programs like our Belonging initiative are designed to engage our workforce by having them collaborate with leadership to continually impact their work experience in positive ways.
Thirty percent of our DSP workforce has participated in our Career Ladders Program to learn how to weave Penn-Mar’s core values and standards of excellence through the credentialling process to find practical, positive ways to make them come to life for the people they support.
Our DSP workforce is highly motivated to pursue other educational opportunities as well. Some are in the process of pursuing college degrees in human services, while others are active participants in industry-related continuing education workshops, conferences, and seminars.
Other training opportunities like our Frontline Supervisor Certification Program Training are also available to DSPs and don’t require them to leave their person-centered supports behind. Their DSP experience only serves to strengthen their leadership roles as they transition to becoming mentors and managers.
We all have people in our lives that play invaluable roles. Occasionally, I find myself taking a step back to consider when the last time was that I told them how much I care about them and value our relationship.
During DSP Week, we formally take the time to thank our DSPs and acknowledge the daily, often unsung moments of connection and care that define the true spirit of this essential workforce.
As an organization, we are committed to cultivating an environment where appreciation is not reserved for a single week but rather embedded in our culture year-round. We strive to ensure our DSPs feel seen, valued, and empowered to grow — both professionally and personally — because their contributions form the foundation of our mission.
On behalf of the entire Penn-Mar organization, the people we support and their families, I am delighted to extend 24/7 heartfelt thanks to all our dynamic and committed DSPs, especially during their special week!